Should I use int or an unsigned 1-byte type for booleans in C?

For performance and compatibility, you should go with 'int'. Most of the time, conditional statements expect 'int' values, and using 'int' ensures you won't face issues with operators misbehaving. Using a smaller type might save memory, but only do that if your application is critically strapped for space. I’ve done bit packing before to fit booleans into smaller structures, but it can get quite tedious with bit manipulations.

Yeah, 'int' is still king here. I remember back in the day when I tried to save memory by using a smaller type for booleans. It worked fine until I ran into alignment issues. Stick to 'int' for better alignment and hassle-free comparisons, unless you truly have no choice.

If you're using C23, you have the built-in 'bool', but for older standards, both 'int' and unsigned types work. Honestly, I'd stick with 'int'. It's memory aligned and generally faster for comparison operations. Plus, the standard library uses 'int' for 'bool', so you won't run into issues when dealing with conditions and comparisons. But if you're in a super tight memory situation, a 1-byte type might be worth considering but it's quite rare these days. Just a heads up, though—be careful of memory alignment issues if you go that route.